Women's pregame: USC vs. Kentucky

WHEN: 3 p.m. | WHERE: Colonial Life Arena

TV: FSC | RADIO: WISW 1320 AM

RECORDS: USC 10-16, 2-11, Kentucky 14-14, 4-9

COACHES: Dawn Staley (10-16 in first season at USC, 182-96 in nine seasons); Matthew Mitchell (31-30 in two seasons at Kentucky, 61-59 in four seasons)

TICKETS: (800) 4SC-FANS

THREE THINGS TO WATCH

1. Two of the three USC seniors will be on the sidelines for Senior Day. Demetress Adams and Brionna Dickerson will take part of the festivities but only C.J. Pace will be able to suit up and play. Adams and Dickerson had their seasons cut short with knee injuries.

2. It has become apparent the Gamecocks are a better team when they get to the free throw line than attempt 3-pointers. In nine of the 10 wins this year, they shot more free throws than 3-pointers. They are 2-9 in games they have attempted 15 or more 3-pointers.

3. USC has seemed to hit a wall. The past two games have been its worst losses of the season. In the setback to Mississippi State, they trailed by one at the half but ended up with a 58-41 loss. Maybe the energy of Senior Day will carry them.

KEY PLAYER

C.J. Pace, G, USC

Pace was very emotional after Adams and Dickerson went out with the season-ending injuries. She has been one of the two biggest scoring options since then and will need to have a big day if the Gamecocks hope to win.

STARTING LINEUPS

GAMECOCKS

POS. HT. NAME PPG

F 5-10 C.J. Pace 7.3

F 5-10 Courtney Newton 3.2

G 5-9 Lauren Falohun 3.6

G 5-9 Lakeisha Sutton 11.2

G 5-4 Samone Kennedy 5.3

WILDCATS

POS. HT. NAME PPG

F 6-3 Eleia Jackson 12.0

F 6-1 Jenn’e Jackson 1.4

F 6-1 Victoria Dunlap 12.5

G 5-8 Carly Ormerod 5.8

G 5-5 Amber Smith 8.0

BOTTOM LINE:

Kentucky has an outside chance at the WNIT but would have to go deep in the SEC tournament. USC will be the 11th seed and is playing out the string.

— Chris Dearing